Backing strip-stud component for flexible folders



Feb. 6, 1968 R. C. DAVID ET AL BACKING STRIP-STUD COMPONENT FOR FLEXIBLEFOLDERS Original Filed Aug 24, 1964 H 3 3 3 2 4 2 3 l 3 4 l\ 5 2 8 W 7 0Z 2 Q m United States Patent G 3,367,340 BACKING STRIP-STUD COMPUNENTFUR FLEXIBLE FOLDERS Robert C. David, Deerfield, and Herbert Gratz,Elrnhurst, 11]., and Robert H. Miller, 5415 Grand Ave., Western Springs,111. 60558; said David and said Gratz assignors to said MillerContinuation of application Ser. No. 391,685, Aug. 24, 1964. Thisapplication Mar. 16, 1967, Ser. No. 643,758 2 Claims. (Cl. 129--39.5)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A folder device having top, bottom andoverlapping sections and a single backing strip which forms a spinemember, the strip having at least one stud cast integral therewith, thestud being adapted to retain removable filler sheets.

This is a continuation application of Ser. No. 391,685 filed Aug. 24,1964, now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to folders having filler sheets thereinand more particularly relates to an improvement in folders having fusedcover sheets of one material and filler sheets of another material.

A number of folders presently available and used for retainingbrochures, documents, advertising and the like, range from ring typeunits which are extremely bulky, to plastic carrying cases having heatsealed covers and filler sheets which are attached to the carrying caseby a cumbersome, costly, mechanical fastening means that often times isvisible to a person viewing the carrying case when it is in a closed orlocked position. Thus, many of the conventional filler sheet folders onthe market today are unsatisfactory because of their cost and/orunattractive appearance.

In order to obviate these deficiencies and to eliminate the need foremploying tools presently required for installing or removing fillersheet fastening means, a compact assembly has been invented which notonly enhances the overall appearance of the folder but additionallyreduces the unit folder cost. This compact folder has been the subjectof an application filled by Robert H. Miller, Apr. 7, 1964, SN. 358,018,now Patent No. 3,324,918. In the folder application referred to, anouter cover and inner cover, each preferably made of vinyl, are fusedtogether with stiffener members encased within the covers to form ahard-back folder cover. Filler sheets made from a second material suchas polyethylene or polyurethane, can be attached to the fused foldercover either by means of heat sealing or through the use of variousfastener means.

In our present invention, we have discovered a new and novel improvementfor attaching the filler sheets to the hard-back cover. In our improvedfolder, filler sheet retaining studs are preferably made integral withthe folder backing strip to form a unitary component, the effect beingthat the filler sheets can be readily pressed onto the studs after whicha plastic filler sheet retention strap is snapped onto the studs thuscompleting the folder assembly. With this improved folder, savings arenot only effected due to a reduction in folder assembly time, butadditionally the cost of the backing strip, retaining studs, and sheetretention strap are significantly reduced over elements presentlyutilized to attach filler sheets to the hard-back cover.

Moreover, our novel unitary backing strip-stud component and backingstrap can be employed for use with a flap that is part of the hard-backcover. A card index folder such as disclosed and claimed in the RobertH. Miller application, Ser. No. 344,053, filed Feb. 11, 1964, now PatentNo. 3,280,820, can be, if desired, attached to 3,367,340 Patented Feb.6, 1968 the studs located on the cover flap to provide a folder havingboth filler sheets and card index holder.

Other features and advantages are inherent in the construction claimedand disclosed which will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detail description in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 shows the folder in an open position without filler sheets andwith a portion of the inner or lining cover removed. A portion of aretention strap is shown snapped onto the stud located on the backingstrip;

FIGURE 2 shows the folder with the filler sheets inserted and a cardindex holder snapped onto studs extending outwardly from a flap on thefolder cover;

FIGURE 3 shows an enlarged view of the retention stud as an integralpart of a portion of a backing tab having a stud thereon, the integralbacking tab and stud component being heat sealed to the inner cover ofthe flap shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 shows an enlarged fragmentary view of the integral stud backingstrip component and the filler sheets and retention strap positionedrelative to the retention stud, the stud shaped in a differentembodiment than that shown in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 shows a retention button used in place of the retention strap.

In FIGURE 1, outer cover 10 has stiffener members 9 and 11 disposedthereon at selected locations. The stiifener members are generally madeof multi-ply cardboard and serve to provide the folder with a study,flexible, hard-back cover. Positioned between stiffener members 11 is abacking strip or spine 12 which is preferably made of plastic materialsuch as polyethylene; however, if desired, the backing strip could bemade of other material. Integral with backing strip 12 are retainingstuds 13, the unitary strip and stud component being conveniently madein a single mold injection operation. The studs are made of a materialharder than the vinyl cover sheets, e.g., polyethylene. As viewed fromFIGURES 3 and 4, studs 13 each have a neck portion 14 and a head portion15', one end of neck portion 14 terminating as the lower end of headportion 15 while the remaining end of the neck portion terminates aspart of attached strip 12 in FIGURE 4 and a flange as shown in FIGURE 3.In FIG- 'URE 3 flange 8 is sealed to tab 30.

With backing strip-stud component in position, an inner or lining cover17 made of the same material as outer cover 10 and having apertures 18located therein is laid over both stiifeners 9 and 11 and backing strip12 with apertures 13 being inserted over head portion 15 of sheetretaining studs 13. Covers 10 and 17 are fused to each other at theouter edges as Well as along the edges of stiffeners 9 and 11 andbacking strip 12, the sealing serving to retain the stiffener membersand backing strip in their proper positions.

Filler sheets 20 having apertures 21 therein are inserted over headretention portion 15 of studs 13, the apertures 21 in the sheets andapertures 18 in inner cover 17 being smaller in diameter than themaximum diameter of the studs 13. The diameters of the apertures in thesheets 2% and inner cover 17 are smaller than at least part of theportion of the stud over which they are pulled during assembly such thatthe portion of the stud above the positioned sheets and cover 17 servesas a positive means for retaining the sheets and cover in position. (SeeFIG- URE 4.)

The folder assembly is completed when sheet retention strap 22 havingapertures 23 is pressed over studs 13, the strap being frictionallyretained in position by studs 13, the maximum diameter of the studsbeing slightly larger than the diameter of the apertures 23 in strap 22.

Strap 22 preferably made of vinyl with the edges surrounding both thestrip and apertures 23 being heat sealed, is semi-flexible in that itcan be bent along its longitudinal length but is sufficiently rigid toprovide creasing edges along the marginal longitudinal edges of thestrap for sheets 20 when the folder is in a closed position. Further,the filler sheets, inner cover and retention strap are all resilientenough that, in use, they can be stretched to fit over the head portion15 of stud 13 where they then return to their normal dimensions andsurround the reduced diameter of the neck or lower portion of the studs.

In addition to employing a novel backing strip and stud component forretaining the filler sheets and backing strap, we are also able toincorporate this type of component for use with a card index holderwhich can be attached to flap 25 which is part of the hard-back cover ofthe folder. A backing tab 30 having studs 31, shown in an enlarged viewin FIGURE 3, is sealed between inner cover 17 and outer cover 10 on flap25. A card index holder 32, with apertures 33 is then fastened to studs31, the studs 31 each having a head and neck portion corresponding tostuds 13. A retention component 34, corresponding to strap 23, can thenbe snapped onto the studs thus holding the index holder in positionwithin the folder.

Although a retention strap has been employed in the instant application,it is appreciated the sheets could be made so that upon assembly theycould be retained without the need for a retention member, the studs 13serving as the sole means for holding the filler sheets and index holderin position. Also, instead of using a backing strap 22 to retain thefiller sheets in position, other retention members such as retentionbutton 26, preferably made of plastic, could be utilized for retainingfiller sheets 20 in position.

The dimensions of the folder can vary as desired; however, we have foundfor a suitable application, the hardback cover in an open position asindicated in FIGURE 1 is about 24 inches long and about 11 /2 incheswide. The backing strip-stud component, formed from a polyethylene stripis about A; inch wide and about 11% inches long with the studs beingapproximately inch in height and spaced apart about 9 inches, center tocenter. Backing strap .22 is about 10 inches long and about /2 inch wideand has apertures which are also spaced about 9 inches apart, center tocenter.

The diameter, of the apertures in the inner cover and filler sheets isabout inch whereas the maximum diameter of the stud, which is located atthat end of neck portion 14 which terminates as an end of head portion15, is about W inch while the minimum diameter of the neck portion isabout & inch. The diameter of the apertures in retention strap 22 isalso about /32 inch such that it will provide a tight fit for the strapwhen positioned with respect to stud 13.

Instead of using backing strip 12 having stud 13 formed integrallytherewith, a cardboard or metal backing strip may be used and the stud13 may be fused to either the inner cover 17 or the outer cover 10.

The foregoing description has been given for clearness of understandingonly, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, asmodifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A folder adaptable for having filler sheets removably afl-ixedthereto, said folder comprising:

an outer cover made of a first material;

an inner cover made of said first material;

spaced stiffener members disposed between said inner and outer covers;

said inner and outer covers being sealed together along thecorresponding marginal edges of said covers and along the edges of saidstiffener members whereby a top section, a bottom section and anoverlapping section are formed;

a single backing strip disposed between and immediately adjacent saidinner and outer covers and positioned between and in spaced relation tosaid stiffener members forming said top and bottom sections;

said backing strip having at least one retaining stud cast integraltherewith to form a unitary strip and stud member, whereby said stripforms a spine for filler sheets and said stud projects through andupward from said inner cover;

said stud having a neck portion rigid with said strip and a blunt headportion positioned on said neck portion, said head portion having alarger diameter than said neck portion;

a plurality of plastic filler sheets each having at least one apertureabout the mid portion thereof, said filler sheets being removablyattached to said stud at the location of said aperture which is placedin registry upon said stud; and,

a retention member having substantially the same width as said backingstrip, said retention member being formed of a semi-flexible materialand having at least one aperture therein for registry with saidapertures of said filler sheets and suitable for accommodating said studwhereby said filler sheets are retained in position by said retentionmember.

2. A folder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and secondcovers are made of vinyl and said backing strip is made of polyethylene.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 281,682 7/1883 Gibbs 28l161,117,609 11/1914 Smith 281-16 2,136,186 11/1938 Frost 281--19 2,486,33010/1949 Schade 281-29 2,727,550 12/1955 Montessi 129-395 X 2,888,0555/1959 Dingman. 3,159,411 12/1964 McKowen 281-36 X 3,167,328 1/1965Dengle et al. 28136 X FOREIGN PATENTS 220,340 8/ 1957 Australia.

27,440 1913 Great Britain. 812,971 2/ 1937 France.

0 JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner.

